Australia produced another mistake-ridden performance but did enough to overcome Georgia 27-8 in Fukuroi and move to the top of Pool D.
The Wallabies had 80 per cent of the ball in the first half but they could only muster a 10-3 advantage at the break following Nic White’s try and Matt Toomua’s penalty.
Soso Matiashvili responded for the Lelos off the tee and they remained in the contest as the Australians struggled in the inclement conditions. However, Marika Koroibete, Jack Dempsey and Will Genia tries ensured the victory and took them to the group summit, despite Alexander Todua’s score.
Michael Cheika’s outfit are still likely to face England in the quarter-finals, though, with Wales only needing a victory against Uruguay on Sunday to claim the pool.
Although conditions made it difficult for the Australians, they will need to improve significantly if they are to challenge the Red Rose.
The Wallabies did start well on Friday, however, and remained patient, displaying good skills to initially keep mistakes at a premium. Their pressure was unrelenting and Milton Haig’s men began to tire, resulting in fly-half Toomua breaking the line. Although the pivot was halted, they went through the phases and White showed his sniping instincts to touch down.
Buoyed by that score, Cheika’s charges had the confidence to move the ball from inside their own 22, but it didn’t prove to be the wisest call as Tolu Latu lost the ball in contact. The hooker then proceeded to take Merab Sharikadze high and that allowed Matiashvili to reduce the arrears after half-an-hour.
Australia continued to control the encounter, though, and earned a series of penalties close to the opposition line. They maintained their tactic of going for the corner but it did not yield any reward as the Lelos remained stout and held out.
Georgia try!@GeorgianRugby score their first try thanks to Alexander Todua but the dummy to set him away down the flank is pure 🔥#RWC2019 #ITVRugby #AUSVGEO pic.twitter.com/I56YeWwRvB
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) October 11, 2019
The Australians were then hampered by a yellow card handed out to Isi Naisarani for a dangerous clearout, but they managed to restore their seven-point buffer just shy of the interval via the boot of Toomua.
It was an unsurprisingly scrappy affair and both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball at the start of the second period. Errors, particularly from the southern hemisphere outfit, pervaded the play and that kept Georgia in the contest.
Cheika’s men needed something special to break the game open and it came from Koroibete, who weaved his way in and out of would-be Georgian tacklers to score a superb individual effort.
That effectively ended the match as a contest, even though their opponents constructed an excellent try as Lasha Khmaladze scythed through and fed Todua, who finished in the left-hand corner.
At 17-8 down, the Lelos had shown commendable spirit, but two late tries from Dempsey and Genia gave the scoreline a more comfortable look for the Wallabies.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: White, Koroibete, Dempsey, Genia
Cons: Toomua 2
Pen: Toomua
For Georgia:
Try: Todua
Pen: Matiashvili
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 James O’Connor, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock (c), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Will Genia, 22 Christian Lealiifano, 23 Dane Haylett-Petty
Georgia: 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Giorgi Kveseladze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Beka Saginadze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Giorgi Melikidze, 19 Otari Giorgadze, 20 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 21 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Tamaz Mchedlidze
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
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